Letters to the Editor

Volunteers helped clean this planting bed in Washington Park.

PHOTO BY DAVID HINE

Train station investment

The Amtrak Station needs renovation. Let me congratulate the city council for
supporting this worthy TIF project.
The Amtrak folks at the Illinois Department of Transportation are a big boost to
Springfield tourism; last year 157,540 passengers used the Springfield Amtrak
station, compared to 113,199 who used Capital Airport. Amtrak distributes a Bed
and Breakfasts guide statewide, free of charge. Listed for Springfield are four
who participate: the Henry Mischler House, the Inn at 835, Ripon-Kinsella House
and the Pasfield House Inn.
For years Sen. Richard Durbin and now Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood
have been working on improving the Chicago to St. Louis rail corridor, getting
us ready for high-speed rail. There is a good chance that federal stimulus
funds will make it happen. Then we will really see passenger train ridership
climb.
Amtrak recently reported a six percent increase in ridership, placing more heads
on beds. The hotel-motel tax generated will increase as a result; the impact on
downtown shopping and dining, resulting in sales tax revenue, is undeniable.
Union Pacific’s property tax bill this year is $249,681. There may not be a better return on
TIF dollars this year.

Springfield’s passenger train depot should become a popular tourist site in itself. The
location was the last stop of President Lincoln’s funeral train. Visitors could be directed to the other depot, where the
president-elect made his famous Springfield farewell address or to the other
Lincoln sites. I’ll help as volunteer curator.

First impressions count. Just think, visitors might stay another day. I can’t think of a more appropriate use of TIF funds. Thank you Mayor Davlin and the
city council.
Tony Leone, ownerPasfield House Inn
Springfield

Quotes of note

“One does not live by bread alone.” Deuteronomy 8:1-3
“One needs LPGA State Farm Classic at Panther Creek Country Club.” Jarosz 6:1-7Fred Jarosz, executive directorHoogland Center for the ArtsSpringfield

Washington Park volunteers

I would like to thank the very dedicated group of volunteers that participated
in the “Split for the Park” event last Saturday, May 9, in Washington Park. Thanks to their hard work, the
main planting beds at the play ground were cleaned up, more than 100 donated
and purchased plants were split and more than 350 plants in all were laid out
and planted. Mulch donated by Chapman Stone and Henry Nelch & Sons finished out the project. All this was accomplished in just a little over
three hours. In total, the Friends of Washington Park volunteer group and the
Springfield Parks Foundation contributed approximately $1,800 in plants and
materials to the Park District. Without passionate, dedicated park patrons like these
volunteers and contributors, projects like this one would not be possible. I
would also like to thank Chuck Smith, Chad Scaife and their staffs with the
Springfield Park District for supporting the volunteer efforts in Washington
Park.
The Friends of Washington Park volunteers have been supporting efforts such as
this within the park over the last two years. If you would like to be a part of
the Friends of Washington Park volunteer effort please call Doug at 553-1329 or
e-mail f16ratt@mac.com. The next scheduled work day for the Friends of
Washington Park volunteers will be May 30 from 7-10 a.m. We will be trimming back the 2000 tulips that were planted
last fall within the park and replacing them with new plants to spruce up the
park entry signs for summer. Doug ReynoldsChairman, Friends of Washington Park Committee
Springfield

Lack of insurance kills

I’d like to see the same system here that they have in Europe and Canada. If I
didn’t have to buy health insurance I’d gladly pay 10 bucks a gallon for gas! I spend a whole lot more on health care
than I do on transportation, and I’m healthy.

My best friend was two weeks shy of his 40th birthday in 1992 when he died from
lack of health insurance. His heart disease was treatable but unaffordable,
since his employer didn’t offer insurance. Because of this I consider the insurance industry to be his
murderers. If Jim had lived in Canada or Europe (or even Cuba) he’d be alive today.